Monica Aldama Courtesy of Netflix
Cheer star Monica Aldama shared her response to the information that pupil Madi Lane is suing her and Navarro Faculty for allegedly concealing a sexual assault.
The cheerleading coach, 51, advised TMZ on Friday, April 28, that she is “heartbroken by the false allegations” in Lane’s lawsuit. The Texas native went on to notice that she’s labored “12 months after 12 months” to maintain the Navarro cheer crew a secure house, including that she wouldn’t stay silent if she had been “conscious that any sexual misconduct occurred within the cheer program.”
A rep for Navarro Faculty, in the meantime, advised the outlet that the varsity plans to “vigorously defend itself in court docket.”
Earlier this week, Us Weekly confirmed that Lane — a Navarro pupil who was previously a member of Aldama’s squad — filed a lawsuit in opposition to the coach and the Texas college. In court docket paperwork obtained by Us, Lane alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a teammate throughout her first semester on the faculty in 2021.
Monica Aldama Courtesy of Netflix
Lane went on to say that she report the incident to Aldama, who allegedly advised her to “not make this a giant deal.” Whereas Lane determined to stop the Navarro cheer crew, she claimed that the Full Out writer supplied to assist her discover one other crew if she saved “quiet” in regards to the alleged misconduct.
In line with the court docket submitting, Lane additionally reported the alleged assault to campus police, who allegedly advised her “the sort of factor occurs on a regular basis” and “nothing will occur” when it comes to the assailant going through penalties.
After information of Lane’s lawsuit broke, Aldama briefly deactivated her Instagram account.
The Navarro cheer squad was beforehand on the middle of a scandal when former pupil Jerry Harris was arrested on fees of manufacturing of kid pornography after an FBI investigation. The Illinois native, now 23, was additionally accused of soliciting intercourse from minors whereas at cheerleading competitions.
The previous Netflix persona initially pleaded not responsible to seven felony fees, together with 4 counts of sexual exploitation of kids, one rely of enticement, one rely of receipt of kid pornography and one rely of journey with the intent to interact in a bootleg sexual contact with a minor. In February 2022, Harris modified his plea on two of the counts forward of his sentencing listening to. The fact star was sentenced to 12 years in jail in July 2022.
Harris was absent from season 2 of Cheer amid the scandal, however his former teammates and Aldama talked about the controversy within the docuseries.
“I can’t even wrap my head round how I ought to really feel. This has been a tricky 12 months,” Aldama mentioned within the season 2 premiere, which dropped in January 2022. “However then there are moments which can be so fantastic. These little moments of success that hold you coming again, simply the little issues that add up. … I hold placing one foot in entrance of the opposite, each single day. I don’t have a selection.”
The Texas native added that she was filming Dancing With the Stars when she came upon about Harris’ arrest. “I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I used to be already terrified,” she recalled. “I did the present after which I went again to my trailer. I didn’t even wish to take a look at my telephone as a result of I used to be scared. I didn’t wish to hear anymore as a result of I used to be in such a susceptible place on the time with what I used to be going by way of, and I simply couldn’t take the load of all it.”
In case you or anybody has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A educated employees member will present confidential, judgment-free assist in addition to native assets to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
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